Here’s a new painting from area artist Jeff Pittman. Paintings and prints can be ordered at www.jeffpittmanart.com/galleryhtml/sunnyside_cafe_weaverville-print.html

Tomorrow is the last day you can enter the July Anniversary Contest. You have until midnight ET to enter, and by Noon on Friday, August 1, you’ll know if you’re one of our two big winners. If you’re interested, here’s how the contest winners will be chosen:

When you submit a contest entry, your Name and e-mail address are sent to me via email. All entries are marked “contest”, automatically assigned a number based on the order they were received (the first person to enter is number 1, the second person is number 2, third person number 3, etc.) and stored in a separate contest entries folder.

On August 1, a little before Noon, I will use the Random.org Integer generator to select two numbers. Once I have them, I match those numbers with the corresponding e-mail entry numbers, and I’ll have the winners. Check back here at Noon that day to see if you’re one of them. You will also be e-mailed directly for confirmation and so we can make arrangements for you to pick up your prizes. Once both sets of prizes have been given away, all other July contest entries will be deleted and the process will start all over again with the August contest (though with a smaller prize list).

Again, good luck to everyone who’s entered, or is about to enter. Rules, details, and entry form are here.

This week’s free wine tasting at Maggie B’s Wine & Specialty Store (113 North Main Street) will be held Friday, August 1, 5:30-7:30 p.m.

This week we will have a representative from Dionysus Wine Distributors in the store. She will be pouring delicious, light, white wines.

We will be tasting:

• Les Vignerons De Saumur
• Cave de L’Ormarine Picpoul
• Mount Difficulty Pinot Gris
• Shepherds Ridge Sauvignon Blanc

Try some for you next picnic, garden party, or shindig!

Events at the Weaverville Library in August. For more information about any event, contact the library at 250-6482. It’s located at 41 North Main Street:

PM Book Club: Water for Elephants
Tuesday, August 5, 7 p.m.
The book to be discussed is “Water for Elephants” by Sara Gruen. All interested readers are welcome to attend.

AM Book Club: Look Homeward Angel
Wednesday, August 6, 12:30 p.m.
The book to be discussed is “Look Homeward Angel” by Thomas Wolfe. All interested readers are welcome to attend.

“The Future of Food”
Tuesday, August 12, 7 p.m.
The Friends of the Weaverville Library will screen the film “The Future of Food“, with a seed exchange to follow. Find out how large, corporate agriculture is making it difficult for small farmers and individual gardeners to propagate their own seeds and gardens. Bring some seeds to share.

Book Sales
Friends of the Weaverville Library host the Wednesday Book Sale on the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th Wednesdays of every month. The sales take place 1-3 p.m. in the lower level of the Weaverville Library.

Author Rick Russell will be at the Dry Ridge Museum on Saturday, August 2, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Russell will be signing copies of his latest book, Fear in North Carolina: The Civil War Journals and Letters of the Henry Family. Light refreshments will be provided. For more information call Jan Lawrence at 658-3934. The Dry Ridge Museum is located in the lower level of the Weaverville Library, 41 North Main Street.

MegaVote is provided by Congress.org as a means of tracking your elected officials most recent and upcoming votes.

Recent Senate Votes

Foreclosure Prevention Act Vote Agreed to (72-13, 15 Not Voting) The Senate gave final approval to this housing-recovery package. Sen. Richard Burr voted Not Voting……send e-mail or see bio Sen. Elizabeth Dole voted Not Voting……send e-mail or see bio

Recent House Votes

Foreclosure Prevention Act Vote Passed (272-152, 11 Not Voting) The House passed this housing-recovery package. Rep. Heath Shuler voted YES……send e-mail or see bio Consumer Energy Supply Act Vote Failed (268-157, 10 Not Voting) The House failed to attain the two-thirds margin needed to pass this bill to release 10 percent of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. Rep. Heath Shuler voted YES……send e-mail or see bio National Highway Bridge Reconstruction and Inspection Act Vote Passed (367-55, 12 Not Voting) The House passed this bill that would help states and the Federal Highway Administration create a uniform inspection system for bridges and highways. Rep. Heath Shuler voted YES……send e-mail or see bio

Upcoming Votes

Advancing America’s Priorities - S.3297 The Senate may take up this omnibus bill combining a number of health care bills. Stop Excessive Energy Speculation Act - S.3268 This Senate bill is intended to prevent excessive speculation in the energy commodities market. Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations, FY2009 - H.R.6599 The House is scheduled to take up this $73 billion bill funding military construction and the Department of Veterans Affairs for the upcoming fiscal year. Paycheck Fairness Act - H.R.1338 The House will also take up this bill intended to prevent gender-based wage discrimination.

Online sign-up for the 2008-2009 Ingles Tools for Schools program starts Sunday, July 27. To participate, you need an Ingles Advantage Card and you need to link your card to the school of your choice (even if you have linked your card to a school before, you need to re-link again each new school year). You can link your card at any Ingles location or online at www.ingles-markets.com/advantage_card/tools_for_schools.

Use The Ingles Advantage™ Card and help your local school. When you make purchases using The Ingles Advantage™ Card, Ingles will give back to the school a portion of those sales. The portion can be used by the school to purchase computers and school supplies.

Over the past 10 years, Ingles Markets has contributed over 10 million dollars to schools in towns where Ingles stores are located. These dollars have been used for valuable learning tools and equipment. Public schools, private schools and home school associations are welcome to participate in this program, grades K-12. Ingles and our Tools for School program are committed to helping thousands of schools and students achieve their education goals.

Weaverville gets political this week:

The GOP and Barack Obama
On Saturday, the Buncombe County Republican Party will hold their Annual Chairman’s BBQ at Lake Louise. Saturday on Main Street will find the Barack Obama campaign voter registration table at the clock.

Presidential Pizza Election
Current vote totals in Blue Mountain’s Obama-McCain Pizza election (as of Friday, July 25, 1:45 p.m.)

• McCain - 4
• Obama - 10

New Websites
Recently added to the Links Directory:

• Buncombe County Republicans
• Buncombe County Democrats

Hurricane Season
The height of the political season is also the height of hurricane season. Coincidence?
If you want to keep up with what’s happening out in the tropics, the National Hurricane Center has maps of the activity going on in both the Atlantic and Pacific. www.nhc.noaa.gov

And Then There’s Bele Chere
Is it also any coincidence that Bele Chere occurs during hurricane season? If you’re going to the downtown Asheville festival this weekend, or think you want to go, Mountain Xpress has a great online guide with maps, music samples, a live web cam and more about the 30th Anniversary of the festival. Check it out at www.mountainx.com/belechere

No matter what you do this weekend, be safe and have a good one.

From Buncombe County News:

Sheriff and EOC have new numbers

The non-emergency telephone numbers will change for both agencies. All non-emergency telephone calls should be placed to the new telephone numbers. Should someone call the old number they will receive a recording advising them of the new contact numbers. All emergency calls should be placed to 911.

The new non-emergency numbers are:

Sheriff
New 250-6670 replacing 255-5555

Emergency Operation Center
New 250-6650 replacing 255-5631

Headlines from the July 24-30, 2008 issue of the Weaverville Tribune:

$2.4 Million in First Year Means
Spirits, Sales High at ABC Store
Woodfin ABC store sales are soaring

Gas Thefts Begin to Appear
Town of Woodfin dealing with gas thefts in town

Town Council Approves Consideration of Annexation
And other matters from this month’s Weaverville Town Council

Driver Captures First Win at Cherokee Speedway
Weaverville’s Patrick Bailey takes first in Street Stock Four division

Commentary
A Case of Mistaken Identity
We Know About It, But…

Soccer Camp Opens July 28
MAYSA hosts soccer skills camp July 28-August 1

Historical Program at Dry Ridge Museum
July 26 program about history of Reems Creek

Open Jam for Musicians and Public
Free jam session in Woodfin second and fourth Saturdays

Friends Embark on Bonding Journey
North Buncombe High School graduates take 7-day journey along the Appalachian Trail

First Signs of YMCA
Structural beams start going up for new center in Woodfin

Cathey, Oaks to Marry
Engagement announcement

Morgan’s Movie Reviews for Kids
“College Road Trip”

Insects Infest Watershed Canopy
Wooly adelgids taking over hemlocks around Blackberry Inn Road watershed

New Addition to Express Enterprises
Builder’s Express company opens real estate agency, Express Real Estate

Local Troop ‘Sleeps with the Sharks’
Weaverville Girl Scout Troop 26 spends night at Ripley’s Aquarium

Board Passes Two Resolutions
Notes from this month’s Woodfin Water Board meeting

Buy Locally
United Country-Peregrine Properties
Weaverville Drug Company

Church Adds More Classrooms, Parking
New construction at Reems Creek-Beech Presbyterian Church

What’s Cooking in the Kitchen
Recipes from Jimmy and Michele Carson: Poppy Seed Chicken, Quaker’s Meat Loaf, Alfredo Sauce, Ham and Cheese Appetizer Sandwiches, Mom’s Chocolate Sheet Cake, Stuffed Bell Peppers

Late Registration for ABYSA Soccer
Registration still open for Fall 2008 Soccer Season

New Contacts for Sheriff and EOC
Buncombe County Sherrif’s Office and Buncombe County Emergency Operations Center have new numbers

NBHS Fall Sports Schedules
North Buncombe High School schedules for Varsity and JV Football, Boys’ Varsity and JV Soccer, Varsity and JV Volleyball

NBMS Fall Sports Schedules
North Buncombe Middle School schedules for Football, Boys’ Soccer, and Volleyball

It Seems Like Only Yesterday
Going back in time with an issue of the Weaverville Journal

Ruthie Makes World Premiere at SART
Southern Appalachian Repertory Theatre presents Ruthie July 30-August 3

Duck, Duck, Potato
Mountain Harvey Produce finds potato that looks like a duck (yes, there’s a picture to go along with this)

Nottingham, Schilcher Wed
Marriage announcement

It was on this date one year ago I launched this website. I did so kind of quietly, not really sure it was something many people would be interested in. In the months since then I’ve received all kinds of nice notes, comments, questions, and suggestions, and only a few not so nice notes and suggestions. You know what? When I get those nice ones they really make my day, so a huge thank you to everyone who has sent one.

I know there’s still lots of events, businesses, and organizations out there that I haven’t learned of, so I’m looking forward to learning about them and letting you know about them in the next year. In the meantime, keep those comments and suggestions coming if you have them. You can email me at myweaverville@gmail.com, or call me at 768-8566. This is our Weaverville after all, not just mine.

The Asheville office for Barack Obama’s Campaign For Change is having a “100 Days to Change” voter registration drive in Weaverville, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. on Saturday, July 26. The group will be at a table on Main Street (at the clock) as well as going into town to get people registered to vote. If you have questions about the drive or would like to volunteer, contact Mallory Nelson at 828-390-6517.

Maggie B’s Wine & Specialty Store’s weekly free wine tasting will be Friday, July 25, from 5:30-7:30 p.m.:

This week we will have Josh Odom in from Owl’s Nest Distributors. He will be tasting out 2 whites and 2 red wines that are delicious for the hot weather we’ve been having!
We will be tasting:

• Buenos Ondas Torrontes (Organic)
• Yarraman Hay Burner Chardonnay
• Tamar Ridge Devils Corner Pinot Noir
• Pircas Negras Malbec (Organic)

Maggie B’s is located at 113 North Main Street.

If you have prints in need of frames or mats, Art Accents has a sale on both going on now. Mats are 1/2 price and ready-made frames, which include the glass and hanger, are $9 for 8×10 frames, $14 for 11×14 frames, and $25 for 16×20 frames. There’s no end date set yet for the sale. Art Accents is located at 1 South Main Street.